Kirby Smart details challenge of preparing for Jalen Milroe with scout team
Kirby Smart and the Georgia defense have had the unenviable task of prepping for Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe the past two weeks.
And when asked if they had anyone close to simulating Milroe on the scout team, Smart was quick with his answer: No. Because if such a player existed, he wouldn’t be lingering on the scout team.
“Yeah, if you can simulate this guy, then he would be in the transfer portal somewhere,” Smart said. “Because he would be playing. He would be on a team somewhere playing, because there is no simulation. I think that’s the problem.”
Already Milroe’s been strong to start the 2024 season. He’s completed 67.3% of his passes for 590 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions in three games, while also rushing for 156 yards and six touchdowns.
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And Smart has also seen what Milroe can do to the Georgia defense, as he helped carve up the Bulldogs in the 2023 SEC Championship Game. Milroe finished that game 13-of-23 for 192 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions.
“He can go as fast backwards as he can go forward, I’ve seen him get out of jams straight ahead, backwards, elite quickness,” Smart said. “When you see him in person on the field, he’s very thick and very hard to tackle, but yet has a bazooka for an arm, so there is no simulation.”
So in prepping for Milroe this week, Smart and Co. will do their best to make sure the defense is ready for a player that there’s no substitute for in practice.
“You show pictures and you work really hard on tackling and we’ve done that for two weeks because when you’re tackling him, it’s like tackling a back,” Smart said. “He’s just harder to get on the ground and very elusive, so there’s no simulation. There’s only pictures and the best job you can.”
Smart shared updates on some key defenders
Ahead of a titanic Top 5 showdown at Alabama this weekend, Smart shared a number of key injury updates on some key defenders: Defensive lineman Warren Brinson and edge rusher Mykel Williams.
As of Tuesday, Smart wasn’t making formal declarations of their respective statuses for the weekend, but did share some encouraging updates. And with game day bearing down, both Brinson and Williams are in varying stages of their recoveries.
“Warren’s continued to practice, taking his rep load,” Smart said. “Mykel’s been able to do a little bit. I still don’t know timeline on Mykel. He’s looked good running and taking some reps, some light reps, some rush reps, some stuff he did today — it was his first day really getting out there and doing some things. But, again, I haven’t talked to Ron, so I want to watch the tape and be able to see that.”
Williams, for his part, is one of the top defenders in the country and considered one of the top draft prospects not only at edge rusher, but in the entire class. He’s been out since leaving Georgia’s Week 1 win with a Grade 2 ankle sprain, and was seen in a walking boot ahead of Week 2.
Brinson also left the Week 1 win with what Smart called a “calf contusion” later on. He’s been further along than Williams in returning to play, as the injury has been less severe.
But either way, Smart is still waiting to see what happens before Saturday.
“Feel good about Warren, Mykel’s going to be close,” Smart said.